Month: March 2014

Freshman point guard Jaylon Tate tested out his injured ankle during Illinois’ 64-54 victory over Indiana on Thursday before the pain became overbearing and he could not continue.

After participating fully in warmups prior to the game, Tate logged just one minute before he had to be taken out of the game. He had been hindered in practice all week. He said after the game that while his ankle was doing better it was still not 100 percent.

Tate did not play in the past two games after injuring the ankle against Michigan State on March 1. He was averaging 13.2 minutes per game and was used to give point guard Tracy Abrams a rest. Without Tate, Abrams played 37 minutes against Indiana in the opening game of the Big Ten tournament, although part of the reason was Abrams was also having one of his best games of the season.

Rayvonte Rice has been used as the primary backup point guard.

Tate plans to keep the same process in preparation for tomorrow’s game against Michigan. He will stretch and test the ankle through warm-ups.

“I’m just doing to keep doing treatments,” he said. “Keep getting better and it’s the coaches decision on what I do tomorrow.”

Egwu continues stellar defense

Nnanna Egwu said it did not bother him that he was left off the all-defensive Big Ten team. Illini coach John Groce said it shocked him.

If anyone who did not vote for Egwu watched him on Thursday, they may want to reevaluate their decision.

Egwu dominated the paint against Indiana, altering their shots at the rim constantly, blocking five while forcing the Hoosiers into long-range jump shots from just inside the arc.

“As a team we did a great job of not allowing those guys — because we protected the basket and kind of kept it out of the paint,” he said.

Coming into the game Egwu was the Big Ten’s No.2 shot blocker at 2.1 per game and the anchor of an Illini defense that had limited opponents to just 62.8 points per game on the year (second in the conference).

The Illini have allowed 65 points or less in all but one of their wins this season. And they rank 16th in the nation in defensive efficiency (93.8).

“I kind of take pride that I was a part this year of one of the best defensive teams in the country,” Egwu said. “And knowing that it kind of gave me motivation to keep helping that team become one of the best defensive teams in the country.”

Groce has taken just about any opportunity this season to rave about Egwu defensively saying “he covers up a multitude of sins.”

“I think he’s one of the elite defenders in our league,” Groce said. “He’s one of the best defensive players I’ve ever coached.”

Groce catches up with Pacers forward West

Briefly before the start of Thursday’s game Illini coach John Groce got to catch up with one of his former players, now Indiana Pacers forward David West.

Groce was an assistant at Xavier when West played there.

“Dave’s the best,” Groce said. “He was great to coach. Guys like Dave are a big reason why I got the opportunity at illinois.”

The Illini have prided themselves on their defense lately and it’s been a major key in their recent resurgence much like Pacers, who play their home games at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, take pride in their tenuous defense.

“I’ve enjoyed watching Dave, I enjoy watching the Pacers play defense,” Groce said. “If our defense is anything like theirs we’re going to be in good shape.”